Prosecutor Sally Mealing-McLeod said that the police had contacted Mrs Hayers about having a restraining order made against her husband, but she had said: “Absolutely not. We have been married for 21 years. I don’t believe he meant to carry out the threats. He needs help for alcohol addiction.”

The court was told Hayers had a caution for causing actual bodily harm in 2008 but had not been in court since 1998.

Sean Smith, defending, said Hayers had been in hospital being treated for acute pancreatitis. “He is attempting to tackle his drink problem,” he said.